Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

AdamMY wrote:I visited my Parents and Grandmother this weekend, as last week Monday my grandmother took a fall and gashed her head. She is doing well now, but its when things like that happen that you realize you really need to spend more time with loved ones.

So this upcoming week I will try and contribute notes for The Black Bottle, McClelland's Islay, and Bowmore Legends.

Hope she feels better Adam. I will pour some of my wonderful L6 Ardbeg Uigeadail for her. Post your notes whenever you get a chance. Best wishes

Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

I stared at the big glass box for a while, deciding whether I should open it. I think I was afraid I would end up liking it so much that I would go and buy another bottle or two to keep. Alas, I pulled it out, and unwrapped the wax seal. And while I was at it, I decided to turn on one of my favorite soundtracks- On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Escape from Piz Gloria. Ahhhh...... yes.......

First, I read somewhere that the bottle label smells interesting too... so I took a sniff of that. Yes, definitely interesting. It reminds me of some paper smell I used to know from way back in elementary school- some parchment thing. I can't put my finger on it, but it's oddly familiar. I like it!

Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

Alzarius wrote:I stared at the big glass box for a while, deciding whether I should open it. I think I was afraid I would end up liking it so much that I would go and buy another bottle or two to keep. Alas, I pulled it out, and unwrapped the wax seal. And while I was at it, I decided to turn on one of my favorite soundtracks- On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Escape from Piz Gloria. Ahhhh...... yes.......

First, I read somewhere that the bottle label smells interesting too... so I took a sniff of that. Yes, definitely interesting. It reminds me of some paper smell I used to know from way back in elementary school- some parchment thing. I can't put my finger on it, but it's oddly familiar. I like it!

Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

Nose: Looking for a typical Laph medicinal nose, this ain't the place. Butterscotch, lime, varnish, stewed apples, tabasco, licorice, corned silverside. Take your time with this one, it's subtle but very complex. Now there's a little diesel and lemon.

Palate: Nice creamy mouth feel. The smoke from a fishing trawler diesel exhaust wafting over the deck and picking up the fish smells. Salt and pepper. Tabasco. Drying starfish(yeh I've never used that in a tasting note before either). Dark chocolate and diesel. Ashtray.

This is outrageous and I love it. Eccentric but somehow it works. I actually don't believe my notes have done this whisky justice. The best Islay I've had, could be! For 55 bucks in Australia which is 10 cheaper than HP12 for instance, this is better than many whisky's I've had for triple the price. In my books this is an effin superstar!

Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

Spirit of Islay wrote:haven't been able to do anything for this months tasting due to 2 Burns Meals and getting the New February "A Whiff of Peat Smoke" up on my site . Will see what happens later.....

It would be good to see you later Gordon. I have to go and get a bit of shopping in now but, ...

Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

Nose: Peat of course, but less than you would expect. A little bit of smoke, something sweet. Wet moss and 'wet dog'. Sounds funny, but still... With some water there is a lot more peat.

Palate: OMG!! Very peaty at first indeed, some smoke but it remains a 'gentle' attack. It's a very oily whisky. I almost have to chew this one before I can swallow it down. It's lovely peated but it's not as 'in your face' as the 3D3 Norrie Campbell Tribute. Behind all that peat I find some fresh cake and maltiness too.

Finish: rather short if you ask me. Again a lot of peat and smoke, salt and rather dry.

Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

Nose: Cigarette ash, tea, Kola Kubes wrapped in elastoplast, tobacco and mango, malt. Palate: Very ashy, medicinal and very spicy.Finish: Someone used the sticky side of a plaster to clean an ashtray and then stuck it to my tongue. Aargh! I think there was a lit dog-end in the ashtray. Comment: Strangely fascinating, but not exactly soothing.

Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

Nose: Smokey lemons and apples with shellfish.Palate: More lemon and coalsmoke. The peat is gentle and charming.Finish: Medium length with the smoke coming through more strongly here.Comment: Nice easy going dram. Nothing to dislike.

Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

I'm not going to write a tasting note because this is first dram of a newly opened bottle. I'll post a note after a few weeks. At first nosing it is clearly a Lagavulin, only a lot less sweet than the standard 16yo OB. It's almost a nice change. Maybe it's not as complex as one would think but it's more straight forward. Lots of peat, a little less smoke and maritime. The same for the palate. After the first sip I didn't really like it all that much but after a long while it just gets better and better.

Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

Yup, Bazooka. Used to come in little squares with a powdery sugar coating. It reminds me of the gum that used to come with Topps trading cards (for those old enough to remember it, I believe that the gum was discontinued from the packs in the early 80s).

Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

N: waxy, sea breeze, honey and smoke. Tangerine, peat and lemon.P: Very waxy and salty. Some smoke, peaches, peat and a hint of iodine.F: shortish on wax and salt. Some smoke and white fruits are there as well.

Re: "Keep the Peat Logs Burning" January Live Tasting

I forget everything I read yesterday, but it seems Bowmore is slightly under represented (correct me if I am wrong).

McClelland's Islay(NAS Bowmore Single Malt)Color: Light AmberNose: Great malt aroma, with slight hints of smoke, and sweet peat. Also incredibly floral with heather and lavender. Dare I say it also has a slight hint of what I've come to associate as toasted oak, with perhaps a slight bourbon note.Taste: Sweet, with subtle hints of smoke. I can not get past how sweet it is, although today I am picking up some rather off putting notes ( perhaps a bit too much pepper). Though the taste does have a definite marine character, with hints of salt and seaweed. I know I say apples in a lot of my reviews, but this one has hints of a cinnamon apple sauce.Body: Light and oily.Finish: Dry and smokey, rather reminds me a bit of breating in second hand smoke through my mouth.